Key Facts
• Kabul faces risk of becoming the first modern capital to run out of water.
• Population grew from under 2 million in the 1990s to over 4.5 million today.
• Groundwater levels have dropped by up to 30 meters in the past decade.
• Kabul extracts 44 million cubic meters more groundwater annually than is replenished.
• Nearly 50% of city wells have dried up due to overuse and climate change.
• 80% of groundwater is contaminated by waste and industrial pollutants.
• Families spend up to 30% of income on water or rely on donations.
• Children miss school to fetch water, worsening poverty and vulnerability.
• UN predicts Kabul’s groundwater could be depleted by 2030 if trends continue.
• Political instability and frozen international aid exacerbate the crisis.
Summary
Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, is on the brink of an unprecedented water crisis, with experts warning it could become the first modern city to run out of water. Rapid population growth, climate change, and mismanagement have caused groundwater levels to plummet by up to 30 meters in a decade, leaving nearly half of the city’s wells dry. Families struggle to afford water, with some spending 30% of their income or relying on donations. Contaminated groundwater, affecting 80% of the supply, poses severe health risks. Children are forced to skip school to fetch water, deepening poverty cycles. Political instability and frozen international aid, including a significant funding cut by the U.S., have worsened the situation. The UN warns that without intervention, Kabul’s groundwater could be depleted by 2030, leaving its future uncertain.
